RANT: Pelosi seeks to divert attention!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aE68O.jaWO4E&refer=home

Pelosi Wall Street Probe Follows Pecora After Crash (Update1)
By Mark Pittman and Laura Litvan

*** begin quote ***

April 21 (Bloomberg) — Wall Street may be heading for the deepest investigation of its practices since a congressional panel’s probe of abuses following the 1929 stock market crash.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to push for a comprehensive inquiry, saying that three-quarters of Americans want to know what led to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the collapse of Bear Stearns Cos. and Merrill Lynch & Co. She favors one patterned after Senate Banking Committee hearings led by Ferdinand Pecora starting in 1933, according to her spokesman, Nadeam Elshami.

*** end quote ***

And who investigates Congress?

Because, imho, “their fingerprints” are all over this mess — Dodd, Franks, Pelosi, and Reid!

Bush doesn’t escape clean, but they did block him.

The SEC, FTC, FDIC, and the Justice Department could have “blown the whistle”.

There’s enough blame to go around, but Pelosi is seeking to once again divert attention from her own troubles and that of her fellow congress critters.

Throw them all out!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: FAA conceals bird strike data

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2009/04/20/hudson_ditching_survivor_%60shocked_by_faa_secrecy?page=full&comments=true

Monday, April 20, 2009
Hudson ditching survivor `shocked’ by FAA secrecy
By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN

*** begin quote ***

A survivor of the jetliner that ditched in the Hudson River after hitting birds and most other public commenters opposed a government proposal to make secret its data on when and where such bird strikes occur.

Public comments about the Federal Aviation Administration’s secrecy proposal ran 5-to-1 against it as the comment period closed Monday. One major group, which some had expected to support the rule, declined to take a position.

The primary trade group for U.S. airports, the Airports Council International-North America, told the FAA that its member airports were split on the issue so it “cannot take a position either supporting or opposing” the secrecy. But it urged the agency “to provide explanatory information to assist the public and media to use the data responsibly” if it decides against imposing secrecy.

*** end quote ***

Who’s gooferment is it?

Aren’t they supposed to be protecting us?

Regulators and the regulated. Perfect together!

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TECHNOLOGY: The technology of voting; not paperless!

Monday, April 27, 2009

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/26/1418219&from=rss

Irish Reject E-Voting, Go Back To Paper

Posted by Soulskill on Sunday April 26, @12:07PM

from the progress-is-progress dept.

Government News

Death Metal tips news that the Irish government has announced their decision to abandon e-voting and return to a paper-based system. “Ireland has already put about $67 million into building out its e-voting infrastructure, but the country has apparently decided that it would be even more expensive to keep going with the system than it would be to just scrap it altogether.” John Gormley, Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, said, “It is clear from consideration of the Report of the Commission on Electronic Voting that significant additional costs would arise to advance electronic voting in Ireland. …the assurance of public confidence in the democratic system is of paramount importance and it is vital to bring clarity to the present situation.” He added that he still thinks there is a need for electoral reform.

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As some one who has some modest experience in computer security, this is a wise decision. The only process that I thought was worthwhile was to use technology to create the ballot that was “cast” by depositing the paper receipt in the ballot box. Those cash register receipts, with a crypto hash that can preserve the document’s integrity, would be available for recounts and verification.

Sorry, but anything less is unacceptable.

I laugh at the Minnesota debacle where they had more votes than voters and the courts say that’s ok. Makes banana republics look downright honest.

Argh!

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WRITING: What do you do when the secret police show up for you? (An index card novel)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

It was increasingly hard to stay on the right side of the law. Red light cameras. Complex tax and financial rules in general (i.e., cash withdrawals are limited to one dollar per day). Forms arrive daily to be filled out for this and that. Travel permits are required to enter each “crime prevention zone”. Guns were a long ago memory. Knives were being collected now. Excessive food “hording” was also prohibited. Computers and the internet were carefully tracked. It was expensive to keep every bit or byte, but “Big Sister” did. “Free medical care” translated to crapy care for those that had jobs; rationing for the old, the sick, and the unemployed. Drugs, weapons, gold, and other contraband led to home searches. At the grocery store, “medicine” conflicted with liberty. Each individual had to shop for themselves. Your citizen id card allowed you certain things, but not others. Your calorie and mix was limited. One benefit of the grocery store was gossip. Person to person. Like prisoners in a jail. Rumors spread like wildfire. One was that after so many “cautions”, the family got a trip out of town. There was a lot of discussion of how many people had. Each week, when someone didn’t show up, their number was known. It appeared to be 21.

This wasn’t lost on the fat old man. When he got to 19, he figured his time was due. No family, no job, no real friends. He had nothing to lose. He remembered someone once said: “The most dangerous man in the world is the man who has nothing left to lose.” He went to his backyard and dug under a planter. It was hard work to go down three feet. He took the plastic tube and went to his garage. A hacksaw liberated the contents. One 1911 in a vacuum sealed bag. He worked the action. He went to his closet and sat down. Covered himself from the waist down with a blanket. And, said his Act of Contrition. Churches had long since been closed, but he remembered the prayers.

The Homeland Security Caution Collection Crew was led by a Sargent. He had a six man squad. The pulled up at the address list for the old man. They kicked in the door and spread out through out the house. “No one here, Sarge. He’s running.” “Why, there’s no where to go. Check under the beds and look everywhere.” With that Sarge opened the closet door. His face was blown away. Two more of them bought it before they killed the old man. They called for back up and the Lieutenant. The Lt promoted one of them and called for reinforcements. At HQ, the loss was reported. The General told the Colonel: “We need to recruit more loyal men for the CCC. I see a trend here.”

Will they run out of “loyal men” before we run out of “closet patriots”?

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INTERESTING: Abandoned homes in Detroit indict someone?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

http://www.100abandonedhouses.com

In Detroit!

Could it be the city government’s fault?

Nah!

Must be the greedy owners.

Argh!

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FUN: You May Be A Terrorist!

Monday, April 20, 2009

http://reason.com/terroristquiz/

200904151619.jpg

Why doesn’t this surprise me?!

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RANT: “Plastic pitchforks”? DOn’t think so.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2009/04/astroturf-part-2.html

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Astroturf, Part 2
Hank Kalet

*** begin quote ***

Thomas Frank knows about Republicans and populism.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975925509119297.html

*** end quote ***

MY RESPONSE:

“Plastic pitchforks”?

I don’t think so. Admittedly I don’t know. It too could be another gigantic conspiracy.

But, I think not. For the first time in American history, the current generation in power is seeing — a lower standard of living for the next one, a dumbing down of “graduates”, and a net loss in their savings and earning power.

It makes me mad. It makes them mad. And, it scares the dickens out of everyone.

The political class, instead of providing leadership, has run around like chicken little spending money we don’t have to feather their own nests, reward their friends, and punish their enemies. Once again, the rich and powerful had their losses made good from the public treasury. Little people lost their 401ks and became the butt of late night comedian jokes about 201ks. At least, they noticed.

And don’t forget employment. We’ve gone from the 50’s America where it was possible for a high school student to earn a living wage on one salary to now, where to wage earners is barely enough to pay the taxes and stay solvent. Never mind live comfortably.

Astroturf?

I don’t think so.

And, it flows back into huge gooferments that suck up money like a vacuum cleaner. With bureaucrats that whine about 5 and 10% annual raises, lifetime health care, and artificially fattened pensions for their “lifetime” of “service”.

I think the “tea parties” are the undercurrent of political unrest that will make VietNam look like a walk in the park.

imho, but then I’m just one of those extremist vet that Nepaolitano and our version of the SS — Homeland Security — is watching out for. Got news for them, they could see a problem until it bites US in the A double Q!

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GUNS: Pelosi doesn’t like “guns”

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Pelosi Calls For Gun Registration, Opposes D.C. Gun Reform Legislation

In February, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rightly rejected Attorney General Eric Holder’s call for renewing the so-called “assault weapons” ban, which expired in 2004 after Congress refused to renew it.   

However, on Tuesday, on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Pelosi said, “we [members of Congress] have to find some level of compromise” on guns. She noted that the Supreme Court, in District of Columbia v. Heller, ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to guns. But, she said, “We want them registered.”

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Guess that the 3rd in line for the Presidency doesn’t understand the difference between a RIGHT and a privilege!

After “gun control” comes genocide.

… from my cold dead hands!

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RANT: Begala says paying taxes is patriotic

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/15/begala.taxes/index.html

Commentary: April 15 is patriots’ day

   * Paul Begala: April 15 is one day most Americans sacrifice for government

   * Begala says paying taxes to support worthy government services is patriotic

   * “Tea parties” are being pushed by GOP supporters who lost election, Begala says

   * He says President Obama and Congress have cut taxes for most

By Paul Begala

CNN Contributor

*** begin quote ***

(CNN) — Happy Patriots’ Day. April 15 is the one day a year when our country asks something of us — or at least the vast majority of us.

*** and ***

This country has showered me with the blessings of liberty. So what do I owe my country in return? Paying my fair share of taxes, it seems, is the least I can do. Thanks to President Obama and the Democratic Congress, 95 percent of Americans will get a tax cut this year. No one — not even the wealthiest 1 percent — will have to pay higher income taxes until 2011.

*** end quote ***

Please don’t make me laugh. Or, insult my intelligence!

As a vet, a voter, and a taxpayer, why don’t I feel “represented”. My congress critters and bureaucrats no more represent my thinking than the pirates in Somalia. Congress is bought and paid for by the special interests.

I am oppressed more than any serf in the middle ages. At least the feudal lord left them half.

It’s impossible to day to figure out how much of a serf I am. It feels close to 100%!

And, perhaps, Komrade Begala can explain to me how this obligation was created.

The State has no specific duty to protect me; yet, I have an obligation to pay taxes for protection I don’t receive. So, how does what some dead old white guys agreed to in a room more than 200 years ago bind me? Sorry, but I didn’t, don’t, and won’t agree with tyranny.

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MONEY: Pay your taxes, serf?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

http://www.impactlab.com/2009/03/27/watching-the-income-tax-system-implode/

March 27th, 2009 at 9:12 am

Watching The Income Tax System Implode

*** begin quote ***

Change does not happen because everyone gets together first and decides a change is going to happen. Momentum will build quickly around a single event or thought leader. When the general public senses that the end is near, an overwhelming flood of support will rapidly hasten its demise.

*** end quote ***

I think it ends when the productive class decides to produce less. They pay less tax. And, the gooferment can’t find enough to tax.

The Chinese decide that 5T$ is too much. And, the world refuses to lend more to the American “banana republic government”.

The world decides that era of the American dollar as a reserve currency is over. And, the American Empire slides into the dustbin of history.

Tax revolt?

Even if we don’t have one here, the one overseas will be much worse.

See inflation is a tax on those foreigners holding dollars.

Gold anyone?

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